US11180061B2 - System and method for controlling air ventilation volume of vehicle seat - Google Patents
System and method for controlling air ventilation volume of vehicle seat Download PDFInfo
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- US11180061B2 US11180061B2 US16/927,484 US202016927484A US11180061B2 US 11180061 B2 US11180061 B2 US 11180061B2 US 202016927484 A US202016927484 A US 202016927484A US 11180061 B2 US11180061 B2 US 11180061B2
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- passenger
- seat
- air ventilation
- ventilation volume
- contacting
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- 238000009423 ventilation Methods 0.000 title claims abstract description 131
- 238000000034 method Methods 0.000 title claims abstract description 23
- 210000004243 sweat Anatomy 0.000 claims abstract description 92
- 238000009826 distribution Methods 0.000 claims description 43
- 210000000689 upper leg Anatomy 0.000 claims description 27
- 230000000903 blocking effect Effects 0.000 claims description 20
- 238000009827 uniform distribution Methods 0.000 claims description 19
- 230000004044 response Effects 0.000 claims description 14
- 239000012141 concentrate Substances 0.000 claims description 8
- 238000002474 experimental method Methods 0.000 claims description 7
- 238000007664 blowing Methods 0.000 description 5
- 230000003252 repetitive effect Effects 0.000 description 3
- 230000036760 body temperature Effects 0.000 description 2
- 238000001514 detection method Methods 0.000 description 2
- 238000010586 diagram Methods 0.000 description 2
- 230000035900 sweating Effects 0.000 description 2
- 238000004378 air conditioning Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000008901 benefit Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000008859 change Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000000694 effects Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000012986 modification Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000004048 modification Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000008569 process Effects 0.000 description 1
Images
Classifications
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
- B60N—SEATS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR VEHICLES; VEHICLE PASSENGER ACCOMMODATION NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- B60N2/00—Seats specially adapted for vehicles; Arrangement or mounting of seats in vehicles
- B60N2/56—Heating or ventilating devices
- B60N2/5607—Heating or ventilating devices characterised by convection
- B60N2/5621—Heating or ventilating devices characterised by convection by air
- B60N2/5628—Heating or ventilating devices characterised by convection by air coming from the vehicle ventilation system, e.g. air-conditioning system
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
- B60N—SEATS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR VEHICLES; VEHICLE PASSENGER ACCOMMODATION NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- B60N2/00—Seats specially adapted for vehicles; Arrangement or mounting of seats in vehicles
- B60N2/56—Heating or ventilating devices
- B60N2/5607—Heating or ventilating devices characterised by convection
- B60N2/5621—Heating or ventilating devices characterised by convection by air
- B60N2/5657—Heating or ventilating devices characterised by convection by air blown towards the seat surface
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
- A47C—CHAIRS; SOFAS; BEDS
- A47C7/00—Parts, details, or accessories of chairs or stools
- A47C7/62—Accessories for chairs
- A47C7/72—Adaptations for incorporating lamps, radio sets, bars, telephones, ventilation, heating or cooling arrangements or the like
- A47C7/74—Adaptations for incorporating lamps, radio sets, bars, telephones, ventilation, heating or cooling arrangements or the like for ventilation, heating or cooling
- A47C7/742—Adaptations for incorporating lamps, radio sets, bars, telephones, ventilation, heating or cooling arrangements or the like for ventilation, heating or cooling for ventilating or cooling
- A47C7/744—Adaptations for incorporating lamps, radio sets, bars, telephones, ventilation, heating or cooling arrangements or the like for ventilation, heating or cooling for ventilating or cooling with active means, e.g. by using air blowers or liquid pumps
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
- B60H—ARRANGEMENTS OF HEATING, COOLING, VENTILATING OR OTHER AIR-TREATING DEVICES SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR PASSENGER OR GOODS SPACES OF VEHICLES
- B60H1/00—Heating, cooling or ventilating [HVAC] devices
- B60H1/00642—Control systems or circuits; Control members or indication devices for heating, cooling or ventilating devices
- B60H1/00735—Control systems or circuits characterised by their input, i.e. by the detection, measurement or calculation of particular conditions, e.g. signal treatment, dynamic models
- B60H1/00742—Control systems or circuits characterised by their input, i.e. by the detection, measurement or calculation of particular conditions, e.g. signal treatment, dynamic models by detection of the vehicle occupants' presence; by detection of conditions relating to the body of occupants, e.g. using radiant heat detectors
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
- B60N—SEATS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR VEHICLES; VEHICLE PASSENGER ACCOMMODATION NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- B60N2/00—Seats specially adapted for vehicles; Arrangement or mounting of seats in vehicles
- B60N2/002—Seats provided with an occupancy detection means mounted therein or thereon
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
- B60N—SEATS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR VEHICLES; VEHICLE PASSENGER ACCOMMODATION NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- B60N2/00—Seats specially adapted for vehicles; Arrangement or mounting of seats in vehicles
- B60N2/002—Seats provided with an occupancy detection means mounted therein or thereon
- B60N2/0021—Seats provided with an occupancy detection means mounted therein or thereon characterised by the type of sensor or measurement
- B60N2/003—Seats provided with an occupancy detection means mounted therein or thereon characterised by the type of sensor or measurement characterised by the sensor mounting location in or on the seat
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
- B60N—SEATS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR VEHICLES; VEHICLE PASSENGER ACCOMMODATION NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- B60N2210/00—Sensor types, e.g. for passenger detection systems or for controlling seats
- B60N2210/30—Temperature sensors
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
- B60N—SEATS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR VEHICLES; VEHICLE PASSENGER ACCOMMODATION NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- B60N2210/00—Sensor types, e.g. for passenger detection systems or for controlling seats
- B60N2210/40—Force or pressure sensors
Definitions
- the present disclosure relates to a system and method for controlling an air ventilation volume of a vehicle seat. More particularly, it relates to a system and method for controlling an air ventilation volume of a vehicle seat in which a passenger's sweating part is predicted in advance so that the air ventilation volume of the vehicle seat is concentrated on the predicted passenger's sweating part.
- a ventilation seat system which discharges cool air to the surface of the seat via a duct from an air conditioning system of a vehicle so as to provide ride comfort to the passenger, is being used.
- the conventional ventilation seat system uses an air ventilation control method which adjusts an air blowing volume through manual operation by a passenger, or an air ventilation control method which measures passenger's body temperature and humidity through a temperature sensor and a humidity sensor mounted in a seat and automatically increases an air blowing volume when the measured temperature and humidity are predetermined levels or more, and in this case, the same air ventilation volume is supplied to all body parts of the passenger without consideration of a humidity difference between the passenger's body parts of the passenger sitting on the vehicle seat and thus causes passenger inconvenience.
- an amount of sweat generated from the passenger's hips is great and relatively thus the temperature and relative humidity of the passenger's hips may be high, and an amount of sweat generated from the passenger's thighs is relatively small and thus the temperature and relative humidity of the passenger's thighs may be low.
- the same air ventilation volume is supplied to all body parts of the passenger without consideration of a humidity difference between the passenger's body parts of the passenger sitting on the vehicle seat and thus causes passenger inconvenience.
- the conventional ventilation seat system employs the air ventilation control method which automatically increases the air blowing volume, the air blowing amount to the surface of the seat is increased only when the passenger's body temperature and the passenger's sweat amount (humidity) have already reach predetermined levels, which cause displeasure, or more, and thus, passenger satisfaction with the ventilation seat is lowered.
- the present invention has been made in an effort to solve the above-described problems associated with the prior art, and it is an object of the present invention to provide a system and method for controlling an air ventilation volume of a vehicle seat in which sweat generation rates, relative humidities, etc. of passenger's body parts of a passenger sitting on the vehicle seat are predicted in advance and an air ventilation volume is concentratedly distributed to a passenger's body part predicted to have a high sweat generation rate and a high relative humidity among the passenger's body parts in advance so that ventilation of the seat is carried out before the passenger feels inconvenience due to the locally over-wet state of the passenger's body, thereby allowing the passenger to feel comfort in a sense of sitting on the vehicle seat all the time.
- the present invention provides a system for controlling an air ventilation volume of a vehicle seat, the system including a plurality of body pressure sensors mounted in a seat back and a seat cushion of the vehicle seat to measure a body pressure distribution of a passenger to portions of the seat back and the seat cushion contacting passenger's body parts, a plurality of temperature sensors mounted in the seat back and the seat cushion of the vehicle seat to sense seat surface temperatures of the portions of the seat back and the seat cushion contacting the passenger's body parts, a controller configured to predict an actual sweat generation rate or relative humidity difference between the passenger's body parts caused by the body pressure distribution of the passenger to the portions of the seat back and the seat cushion contacting the passenger's body parts, measured by the body pressure sensors, and the seat surface temperatures of the portions of the seat back and the seat cushion contacting the passenger's body parts, measured by the temperature sensors, and to execute a concentrated distribution mode executed so as to concentrate the air ventilation volume on a passenger's body part having a high sweat generation rate and relative humidity or to execute a uniform distribution mode
- the controller may include a human model unit configured to construct reference data about a sweat generation rate or relative humidity difference between passenger's body parts, which is changed for a predetermined time based on a passenger body pressure distribution and seat surface temperatures, through experiments, a sweat generation rate and relative humidity prediction unit configured to detect the actual sweat generation rate or relative humidity difference between the passenger's body parts corresponding to the actual body pressure distribution of the passenger to the portions of the seat back and the seat cushion contacting the passenger's body parts, measured by the body pressure sensors, and the actual seat surface temperatures of the portions of the seat back and the seat cushion contacting the passenger's body parts, measured by the temperature sensors, from the reference data of the human model unit, and a blow mode execution unit configured to execute the concentrated distribution mode executed so as to concentrate the air ventilation volume on the passenger's body part having the high sweat generation and high relative humidity when the detected actual sweat generation rate or relative humidity difference between the passenger's body parts is greater than a reference value, or to execute the uniform distribution mode executed so as to uniformly distribute the air ventilation volume
- the air ventilation volume guide device may include a first rotary plate rotatably mounted at a boundary between an upper flow path, formed in a pad of the seat back to guide the air ventilation volume to a portion of the seat back contacting a passenger's back, and a lower flow path, formed in the pad of the seat back to guide the air ventilation volume to a portion of the seat back contacting a passenger's waist, a first blocking plate formed integrally with one side of a front surface of the first rotary plate to close one of the upper flow path and the lower flow path or to simultaneously open both the upper flow path and the lower flow path depending on a rotating angle of the first rotary plate, a second rotary plate rotatably mounted at a boundary between a front flow path, formed in a pad of the seat cushion to guide the air ventilation volume to a portion of the seat cushion contacting passenger's thighs, and a rear flow path, formed in the pad of the seat cushion to guide the air ventilation volume to a portion of the seat cushion contacting passenger's hips
- each of the drive devices may include a ring gear mounted at a circumference of a rear surface of a corresponding one of the first rotary plate and the second rotary plate, a motor mounted on a seat frame, and a spur gear mounted at an output shaft of the motor so as to be engaged with the ring gear.
- the body pressure sensors may include a first body pressure sensor mounted in a portion of the seat back contacting a passenger's back, a second body pressure sensor mounted in a portion of the seat back contacting a passenger's waist, a third body pressure sensor mounted in a portion of the seat cushion contacting passenger's hips, and a fourth body pressure sensor mounted in a portion of the seat cushion contacting passenger's thighs.
- the temperature sensors may include a first temperature sensor configured to measure a surface temperature of a portion of the seat back contacting a passenger's back, a second temperature sensor configured to measure a surface temperature of a portion of the seat back contacting a passenger's waist, a third temperature sensor configured to measure a surface temperature of a portion of the seat cushion contacting passenger's hips, and a fourth temperature sensor configured to measure a surface temperature of a portion of the seat cushion contacting passenger's thighs.
- the present invention provides a method for controlling an air ventilation volume of a vehicle seat, the method including measuring, by a plurality of body pressure sensors mounted in a seat back and a seat cushion of the vehicle seat, a body pressure distribution of a passenger to portions of the seat back and the seat cushion contacting passenger's body parts, measuring, by a plurality of temperature sensors mounted in the seat back and the seat cushion of the vehicle seat, seat surface temperatures of the portions of the seat back and the seat cushion contacting the passenger's body parts, detecting, by a controller, an actual sweat generation rate or relative humidity difference between the passenger's body parts corresponding to the actual body pressure distribution to the portions of the seat back and the seat cushion contacting the passenger's body parts, measured by the body pressure sensors, and the actual seat surface temperatures of the portions of the seat back and the seat cushion contacting the passenger's body parts, measured by the temperature sensors, using a human model unit configured to construct reference data about a sweat generation rate or relative humidity difference between passenger's body parts, which is changed for a predetermined time
- a first rotary plate and a second rotary plate of the air ventilation volume guide device rotatably mounted in pads of the seat back and the seat cushion may be rotated so as to concentratedly guide the air ventilation volume to the passenger's body part having the high sweat generation and high relative humidity in response to a driving command depending on execution of the concentrated distribution mode by the controller.
- a first blocking plate formed on the first rotary plate may block one of an upper flow path, formed in the pad of the seat back to guide the air ventilation volume to a portion of the seat back contacting a passenger's back, and a lower flow path, formed in the pad of the seat back to guide the air ventilation volume to a portion of the seat back contacting a passenger's waist
- a second blocking plate formed on the second rotary plate may block one of a front flow path, formed in the pad of the seat cushion to guide the air ventilation volume to a portion of the seat cushion contacting passenger's thighs, and a rear flow path, formed in the pad of the seat cushion to guide the air ventilation volume to a portion of the seat cushion contacting passenger's hips.
- a first rotary plate and a second rotary plate of the air ventilation volume guide device rotatably mounted in pads of the seat back and the seat cushion may be rotated so as to uniformly distribute the air ventilation volume to the passenger's body parts in response to a driving command depending on execution of the uniform distribution mode by the controller.
- a first blocking plate formed on the first rotary plate may simultaneously open both an upper flow path, formed in the pad of the seat back to guide the air ventilation volume to a portion of the seat back contacting a passenger's back, and a lower flow path, formed in the pad of the seat back to guide the air ventilation volume to a portion of the seat back contacting a passenger's waist
- a second blocking plate formed on the second rotary plate may simultaneously open both a front flow path, formed in the pad of the seat cushion to guide the air ventilation volume to a portion of the seat cushion contacting passenger's thighs, and a rear flow path, formed in the pad of the seat cushion to guide the air ventilation volume to a portion of the seat cushion contacting passenger's hips.
- FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a system for controlling an air ventilation volume of a vehicle seat according to the present invention
- FIG. 2 is a schematic view illustrating mounting positions of body pressure sensors and temperature sensors among elements of the system according to the present invention
- FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view illustrating one embodiment of an air ventilation volume guide device among the elements of the system according to the present invention
- FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating a method for controlling an air ventilation volume of a vehicle seat according to the present invention
- FIG. 5 is a graph showing a change in a sweat generation rate or relative humidity difference in the method according to the present invention.
- FIGS. 6 and 7 are schematic views illustrating a state in which the air ventilation volume guide device shown in FIG. 4 is rotated to block one side of a ventilation flow path in response to a driving command depending on execution of a concentrated distribution mode by a controller;
- FIG. 8 is a schematic view illustrating a state in which the air ventilation volume guide device shown in FIG. 4 is rotated to open both sides of the ventilation flow path in response to a driving command depending on execution of a uniform distribution mode by the controller.
- FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a system for controlling an air ventilation volume of a vehicle seat according to the present invention
- FIG. 2 is a schematic view illustrating mounting positions of body pressure sensors and temperature sensors among elements of the system according to the present invention
- FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view illustrating one embodiment of an air ventilation volume guide device among the elements of the system according to the present invention.
- a plurality of body pressure sensors 100 which measures a body pressure distribution of a passenger is mounted in each of a seat back 10 and a seat cushion 20 of a vehicle seat, and a plurality of temperature sensors 200 which senses seat surface temperatures is mounted in each of the seat back 10 and the seat cushion 20 of the vehicle seat.
- the body pressure sensors 100 include a first body pressure sensor 101 mounted in a portion of the seat back 10 contacting the passenger's back, a second body pressure sensor 102 mounted in a portion of the seat back 10 contacting the passenger's waist, a third body pressure sensor 103 mounted in a portion of the seat cushion 20 contacting the passenger's hips, and a fourth body pressure sensor 104 mounted in a portion of the seat cushion 20 contacting the passenger's thighs.
- the first body pressure sensor 101 measures the body pressure of the passenger applied to the portion of the seat back 10 contacting the passenger's back and transmits the measured body pressure to a controller 300
- the second body pressure sensor 102 measures the body pressure of the passenger applied to the portion of the seat back 10 contacting the passenger's waist and transmits the measured body pressure to the controller 300
- the third body pressure sensor 103 measures the body pressure of the passenger applied to the portion of the seat cushion 20 contacting the passenger's hips and transmits the measured body pressure to the controller 300
- the fourth body pressure sensor 104 measures the body pressure of the passenger applied to the portion of the seat cushion 20 contacting the passenger's thighs and transmits the measured body pressure to the controller 300 .
- the temperature sensors 200 include a first temperature sensor 201 which measures the surface temperature of the portion of the seat back 10 contacting the passenger's back and transmits the measured surface temperature to the controller 300 in the state in which the passenger sits on the vehicle seat, a second temperature sensor 202 which measures the surface temperature of the portion of the seat back 10 contacting the passenger's waist and transmits the measured surface temperature to the controller 300 , a third temperature sensor 203 which measures the surface temperature of the portion of the seat cushion 20 contacting the passenger's hips and transmits the measured surface temperature to the controller 300 , and a fourth temperature sensor 204 which measures the surface temperature of the portion of the seat cushion 20 contacting the passenger's thighs and transmits the measured surface temperature to the controller 300 .
- a first temperature sensor 201 which measures the surface temperature of the portion of the seat back 10 contacting the passenger's back and transmits the measured surface temperature to the controller 300 in the state in which the passenger sits on the vehicle seat
- a second temperature sensor 202 which measures the surface temperature of the portion of the seat back
- the controller 300 is configured to detect sweat generation rates and relative humidities of the passenger's body parts based on sensing signals from the first to fourth body pressure sensors 101 , 102 , 103 and 104 and sensing signals from the first to fourth temperature sensors 201 , 202 , 203 and 204 , and then to execute a concentrated distribution mode in which the air ventilation volume is concentrated on a passenger's body part having a high sweat generation rate and a high relative humidity or a uniform distribution mode in which the air ventilation volume is uniformly distributed to the respective passenger's body parts.
- the controller 300 is configured to predict an actual sweat generation rate or relative humidity difference between the passenger's body parts which may be caused by the actual body pressure distribution to the portions of the seat back 10 and the seat cushion 20 contacting the passenger's body parts which is measured by the first to fourth body pressure sensors 101 , 102 , 103 and 104 and the actual seat surface temperatures of the portions of the seat back 10 and the seat cushion 20 contacting the passenger's body parts which are measured by the first to fourth temperature sensors 201 , 202 , 203 and 204 , and to execute the concentrated distribution mode in which the air ventilation volume is concentrated on the passenger's body part having the high sweat generation and high relative humidity or the uniform distribution mode in which the air ventilation volume is uniformly distributed to the respective passenger's body parts.
- the controller 300 may include a human model unit 310 , a sweat generation rate and relative humidity prediction unit 320 , and a blow mode execution unit 330 .
- the human model unit 310 is a kind of storage medium in which reference data about a sweat generation rate or relative humidity difference between passenger's body parts, which is changed for a predetermined time based on a passenger body pressure distribution to the portions of the seat back 10 and the seat cushion 20 contacting the passenger's body parts and seat surface temperatures of the portions of the seat back 10 and the seat cushion 20 contacting the passenger's body parts, is constructed through repetitive experiments, and is stored in the controller 300 .
- the sweat generation rate and relative humidity prediction unit 320 serves to execute a detection logic, and detects an actual sweat generation rate or relative humidity difference between the passenger's body parts corresponding to the actual body pressure distribution to the portions of the seat back 10 and the seat cushion 20 contacting the passenger's body parts which is measured by the first to fourth body pressure sensors 101 , 102 , 103 and 104 and the actual seat surface temperatures of the portions of the seat back 10 and the seat cushion 20 contacting the passenger's body parts which are measured by the first to fourth temperature sensors 201 , 202 , 203 and 204 from the above-described reference data of the human model unit 310 constructed through the repetitive experiments.
- the blow mode execution unit 330 is configured to control the flow directions of the air ventilation volume supplied to the portions of the vehicle seat contacting the passenger's body parts (for example, the top of the back and/or the waist, and the hips and/or the thighs) based on a result of detection by the sweat generation rate and relative humidity prediction unit 320 .
- the blow mode execution unit 330 executes the concentrated distribution mode in which the air ventilation volume is concentrated on the passenger's body part having the high sweat generation and high relative humidity, when the sweat generation rate or relative humidity difference between the passenger's body parts detected by the sweat generation rate and relative humidity prediction unit 320 is greater than a reference value, or executes the uniform distribution mode in which the air ventilation volume is uniformly distributed to the passenger's body parts, when the sweat generation rate or relative humidity difference between the passenger's body parts detected by the sweat generation rate and relative humidity prediction unit 320 is not greater than the reference value.
- the system according to the present invention includes an air ventilation volume guide device 400 which concentratedly guides the air ventilation volume on the passenger's body part having the high sweat generation and high relative humidity or uniformly distributes the air ventilation volume to the passenger's body parts in response to a driving command signal from the blow mode execution unit 330 of the controller 300 .
- the air ventilation volume guide device 400 is rotatably installed in the seat back 10 and the seat cushion 20 , and is configured to concentrate the air ventilation volume on the passenger's body part having the high sweat generation and high relative humidity or uniformly distribute the air ventilation volume to the passenger's body parts in response to the driving command signal depending on execution of the concentrated distribution mode or the uniform distribution mode by the blow mode execution unit 330 of the controller 300 .
- the air ventilation volume guide device 400 includes, as shown in FIG. 3 , a first rotary plate 401 which is rotatably mounted at the boundary between an upper flow path 11 , formed in a pad of the seat back 10 to guide the air ventilation volume to the portion of the seat back 10 contacting the passenger's back, and a lower flow path 12 , formed in the pad of the seat back 10 to guide the air ventilation volume to the portion of the seat back 10 contacting the passenger's waist, a first blocking plate 402 which is formed integrally with one side of the front surface of the first rotary plate 402 to close one of the upper flow path 11 and the lower flow path 12 or to simultaneously open both the upper flow path 11 and the lower flow path 12 depending on the rotating angle of the first rotary plate 401 , and a drive device 410 which rotates the first rotary plate 401 in response to the driving command signal depending on execution of the concentrated distribution mode or the uniform distribution mode by the blow mode execution unit 330 of the controller 300 .
- the drive device 410 for rotating the first rotary plate 401 may include a ring gear 411 mounted at the circumference of the rear surface of the first rotary plate 401 , a motor 412 mounted on a seat frame, and a spur gear 413 mounted at an output shaft of the motor 412 so as to be engaged with the ring gear 411 .
- the air ventilation volume guide device 400 includes, as shown in FIG. 3 , a second rotary plate 403 which is rotatably mounted at the boundary between a front flow path 21 , formed in a pad of the seat cushion 20 to guide the air ventilation volume to the portion of the seat cushion 20 contacting the passenger's thighs, and a rear flow path 22 , formed in the pad of the seat cushion 20 to guide the air ventilation volume to the portion of the seat cushion 20 contacting the passenger's hips, a second blocking plate 404 which is formed integrally with one side of the upper surface of the second rotary plate 403 to close one of the front flow path 21 and the rear flow path 22 or to simultaneously open both the front flow path 21 and the rear flow path 22 depending on the rotating angle of the second rotary plate 403 , and a drive device 410 which rotates the second rotary plate 403 in response to the driving command signal depending on execution of the concentrated distribution mode or the uniform distribution mode by the blow mode execution unit 330 of the controller 300 .
- the drive device 410 for rotating the second rotary plate 403 may include a ring gear 411 mounted at the circumference of the rear surface of the second rotary plate 403 , a motor 412 mounted on the seat frame, and a spur gear 413 mounted at an output shaft of the motor 412 so as to be engaged with the ring gear 411 .
- FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating a method for controlling an air ventilation volume of a vehicle seat according to the present invention
- FIG. 5 is a graph showing a sweat generation rate or relative humidity difference between passenger's body parts.
- a plurality of body pressure sensors and a plurality of temperature sensors mounted in the seat back 10 and the seat cushion 20 of the vehicle seat measure a body pressure distribution of the passenger to portions of the seat back 10 and the seat cushion 20 contacting respective passenger's body parts and seat surface temperatures of the portions of the seat back 10 and the seat cushion 20 contacting the passenger's body parts (S 101 ).
- the first body pressure sensor 101 measures the body pressure of the passenger applied to the portion of the seat back 10 contacting the passenger's back and transmits the measured body pressure to the controller 300
- the second body pressure sensor 102 measures the body pressure of the passenger applied to the portion of the seat back 10 contacting the passenger's waist and transmits the measured body pressure to the controller 300
- the third body pressure sensor 103 measures the body pressure of the passenger applied to the portion of the seat cushion 20 contacting the passenger's hips and transmits the measured body pressure to the controller 300
- the fourth body pressure sensor 104 measures the body pressure of the passenger applied to the portion of the seat cushion 20 contacting the passenger's thighs and transmits the measured body pressure to the controller 300 .
- the first temperature sensor 201 measures the surface temperature of the portion of the seat back 10 contacting the passenger's back and transmits the measured surface temperature to the controller 300
- the second temperature sensor 202 measures the surface temperature of the portion of the seat back 10 contacting the passenger's waist and transmits the measured surface temperature to the controller 300
- the third temperature sensor 203 measures the surface temperature of the portion of the seat cushion 20 contacting the passenger's hips and transmits the measured surface temperature to the controller 300
- the fourth temperature sensor 204 measures the surface temperature of portion of the seat cushion 20 contacting the passenger's thighs and transmits the measured surface temperature to the controller 300 .
- the sweat generation rate and relative humidity prediction unit 320 of the controller 300 detects an actual sweat generation rate or relative humidity difference ⁇ W between the passenger's body parts corresponding to the actual body pressure distribution to the portions of the seat back 10 and the seat cushion 20 contacting the passenger's body parts, which is measured by the body pressure sensors 101 , 102 , 103 and 104 , and the actual seat surface temperatures of the portions of the seat back 10 and the seat cushion 20 contacting the passenger's body parts, which are measured by the temperature sensors 201 , 202 , 203 and 204 , using the human model unit 310 in which reference data about a sweat generation rate or relative humidity difference between passenger's body parts, which is changed for a predetermined time based on the body pressure distribution of a passenger to the portions of the seat back 10 and the seat cushion 20 contacting the passenger's body parts and seat surface temperatures of the portions of the seat back 10 and the seat cushion 20 contacting the passenger's body parts, is constructed through repetitive experiments (S 102 ).
- the sweat generation rate and relative humidity prediction unit 320 of the controller 300 detects the actual sweat generation rate or relative humidity difference ⁇ W between the passenger's body parts from the reference data in the human model unit 310 by comparing measured data received from the body pressure sensors 101 , 102 , 103 and 104 and the temperature sensors 201 , 202 , 203 and 204 with the reference data in the human model unit 310 (S 102 ).
- the sweat generation rate and relative humidity prediction unit 320 determines whether or not the actual body pressure distribution to the portions of the seat back 10 and the seat cushion 20 contacting the passenger's body parts, which is measured by the body pressure sensors 101 , 102 , 103 and 104 , and the actual seat surface temperatures of the portions of the seat back 10 and the seat cushion 20 contacting the passenger's body parts, which are measured by the temperature sensors 201 , 202 , 203 and 204 , coincide with a body pressure distribution and seat surface temperatures included in the reference data in the human model unit 310 , and determines a sweat generation rate or relative humidity difference at the body pressure distribution and the seat surface temperatures included in the reference data in the human model unit 310 as the actual sweat generation rate or relative humidity difference ⁇ W between the passenger's body parts.
- the sweat generation rate or relative humidity difference between the passenger's body parts may be understood as a sweat generation rate or relative humidity difference between the hips and the thighs of the passenger sitting on the vehicle seat or a sweat generation rate or relative humidity difference between the top of the back and the waist of the passenger sitting on the vehicle seat.
- blow mode execution unit 330 of the controller 300 compares the sweat generation rate or relative humidity difference between the passenger's body parts detected in Operation S 102 with a reference value (S 103 ).
- the blow mode execution unit 330 of the controller 300 executes the concentrated distribution mode in which the air ventilation volume is concentrated on the passenger's body part having a high sweat generation rate and a high relative humidity, when the sweat generation rate or relative humidity difference between the passenger's body parts is greater than the reference value (S 104 ).
- a driving command signal depending on execution of the concentrated distribution mode by the controller 300 is applied to the drive devices 410 of the air ventilation volume guide device 400 (S 105 ).
- the first rotary plate 401 and the second rotary plate 402 of the air ventilation volume guide device 400 are rotated so as to concentrate the air ventilation volume on the passenger's body part having the high sweat generation and high relative humidity (S 106 ).
- the motors 412 of the drive devices 410 are driven and simultaneously the spur gears 413 are rotated and thus transmit rotating force thereof to the ring gears 411 , and due to rotation of the ring gears 411 , the first rotary plate 401 and the second rotary plate 402 are rotated.
- the air ventilation volume may be concentrated on the passenger's body part having the high sweat generation and high relative humidity (S 107 ).
- the air ventilation volume may be concentrated on the passenger's waist
- the sweat generation rate and the relative humidity of the passenger's thighs are greater than the sweat generation rate and the relative humidity of the passenger's hips
- the air ventilation volume may be concentrated on the passenger's thighs.
- the first rotary plate 401 is rotated and simultaneously the first blocking plate 402 is rotated at the same angle as the first rotary plate 401 so as to block the upper flow path 11 of the pad of the seat back 10 and to open the lower flow path 11 of the pad of the seat back 10
- the second rotary plate 403 is rotated and simultaneously the second blocking plate 404 is rotated at the same angle as the second rotary plate 403 so as to block the rear flow path 22 of the pad of the seat cushion 20 and to open the front flow path 21 of the pad of the seat cushion 20 .
- air for ventilation supplied from an air blower may be concentratedly supplied to be distributed to the passenger's waist through the lower flow path 12
- the air for ventilation supplied from another air blower may be concentratedly supplied to be distributed to the passenger's thighs through the front flow path 21 .
- the air ventilation volume may be concentrated on the top of the passenger's waist
- the sweat generation rate and the relative humidity of the passenger's hips are greater than the sweat generation rate and the relative humidity of the passenger's thighs
- the air ventilation volume may be concentrated on the passenger's hips.
- the first rotary plate 401 is rotated and simultaneously the first blocking plate 402 is rotated at the same angle as the first rotary plate 401 so as to block the lower flow path 12 of the pad of the seat back 10 and to open the upper flow path 11 of the pad of the seat back 10
- the second rotary plate 403 is rotated and simultaneously the second blocking plate 404 is rotated at the same angle as the second rotary plate 403 so as to block the front flow path 21 of the pad of the seat cushion 20 and to open the rear flow path 22 of the pad of the seat cushion 20 .
- air for ventilation supplied from the air blower may be concentratedly supplied to be distributed to the top of the passenger's back through the upper flow path 11
- the air for ventilation supplied from the air blower may be concentratedly supplied to be distributed to the passenger's hips through the rear flow path 22 .
- the air ventilation volume is concentrated on the passenger's body having the high sweat generation and high relative humidity in advance, thereby being capable of resolving the locally over-wet state of the passenger's body and thus providing comfort in a sense of sitting on the vehicle seat to the passenger.
- the process for comparing the sweat generation rate or relative humidity difference ⁇ W between the passenger's body parts with the reference value is carried out at a point in time T 1 prior to a point in time T 2 when the sweat generation rate or relative humidity difference ⁇ W becomes the maximum, and thus, when the sweat generation rate or relative humidity difference ⁇ W between the passenger's body parts is greater than the reference value, the air ventilation volume is concentrated on the passenger's body part having a high sweat generation rate and a high relative humidity in advance at the point in time T 1 prior to the point in time T 2 when the sweat generation rate or relative humidity difference ⁇ W becomes the maximum, thereby being capable of resolving the locally over-wet state of the passenger's body and thus providing comfort in a sense of sitting on the vehicle seat to the passenger.
- the blow mode execution unit 330 of the controller 300 executes the uniform distribution mode in which the air ventilation volume is uniformly distributed to the passenger's body parts, when the sweat generation rate or relative humidity difference ⁇ W between the passenger's body parts is not greater than the reference value (S 108 ).
- a driving command signal depending on execution of the uniform distribution mode by the controller 300 is applied to the drive devices 410 of the air ventilation volume guide device 400 , and the first rotary plate 401 and the second rotary plate 402 are rotated at an angle at which the air ventilation volume is uniformly distributed to the passenger's body parts, thereby allowing air supplied from the air blowers to be uniformly distributed to the passenger's body parts (S 109 ).
- the first rotary plate 401 is rotated and the first blocking plate 402 is moved to a position to simultaneously open both the upper flow path 11 to guide the air ventilation volume to the portion of the seat back 10 contacting the passenger's back and the lower flow path 12 to guide the air ventilation volume to the portion of the seat back 10 contacting the passenger's waist
- the second rotary plate 403 is rotated and the second blocking plate 404 is moved to a position to open both the front flow path 21 to guide the air ventilation volume to the portion of the seat cushion 20 contacting the passenger's thighs and the rear flow path 22 to guide the air ventilation volume to the portion of the seat cushion 20 contacting the passenger's hips.
- air supplied from the air blowers may be uniformly distributed to the top of the passenger's back and the passenger's waist through the upper flow path 11 and the lower flow path 12 , and be uniformly distributed to the passenger's thighs and hips through the front flow path 21 and the rear flow path 22 .
- a system and method for controlling an air ventilation volume of a vehicle seat according to the present invention provide the following effects.
- sweat generation rates, relative humidities, etc. of body parts of a passenger sitting on the vehicle seat are predicted in advance, and an air ventilation volume is intensively distributed in advance to a passenger's body part predicted to have a high sweat generation rate and a high relative humidity among the passenger's body parts, thereby being capable of resolving a locally over-wet state of the passenger's body parts and thus providing comfort in a sense of sitting on the vehicle seat to the passenger.
- air ventilation is carried out before the passenger feels inconvenience due to the locally over-wet state of the passenger's body, thereby allowing the passenger to feel comfort in a sense of sitting on the vehicle seat all the time.
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- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
- Aviation & Aerospace Engineering (AREA)
- Transportation (AREA)
- Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- Thermal Sciences (AREA)
- Air-Conditioning For Vehicles (AREA)
- Chair Legs, Seat Parts, And Backrests (AREA)
Abstract
Description
Claims (11)
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KR10-2020-0024714 | 2020-02-28 | ||
KR1020200024714A KR20210109739A (en) | 2020-02-28 | 2020-02-28 | System and method for conrolling air ventilation quantity of vwhicle seat |
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US20210268946A1 US20210268946A1 (en) | 2021-09-02 |
US11180061B2 true US11180061B2 (en) | 2021-11-23 |
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US16/927,484 Active US11180061B2 (en) | 2020-02-28 | 2020-07-13 | System and method for controlling air ventilation volume of vehicle seat |
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CN114383862B (en) * | 2021-12-06 | 2023-09-05 | 上汽大众汽车有限公司 | Modularized seat ventilation measuring device |
Citations (6)
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US20040129478A1 (en) * | 1992-05-05 | 2004-07-08 | Breed David S. | Weight measuring systems and methods for vehicles |
US20050046584A1 (en) * | 1992-05-05 | 2005-03-03 | Breed David S. | Asset system control arrangement and method |
US20060208169A1 (en) * | 1992-05-05 | 2006-09-21 | Breed David S | Vehicular restraint system control system and method using multiple optical imagers |
US20090092284A1 (en) * | 1995-06-07 | 2009-04-09 | Automotive Technologies International, Inc. | Light Modulation Techniques for Imaging Objects in or around a Vehicle |
KR20140028255A (en) | 2012-08-28 | 2014-03-10 | 동아전기부품 주식회사 | Apparatus and method for air conditioning and ventilating of seat for vehicle |
US20210178989A1 (en) * | 2019-12-13 | 2021-06-17 | Hyundai Motor Company | System and method for charging of battery of seat |
-
2020
- 2020-02-28 KR KR1020200024714A patent/KR20210109739A/en active IP Right Grant
- 2020-07-13 US US16/927,484 patent/US11180061B2/en active Active
Patent Citations (6)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US20040129478A1 (en) * | 1992-05-05 | 2004-07-08 | Breed David S. | Weight measuring systems and methods for vehicles |
US20050046584A1 (en) * | 1992-05-05 | 2005-03-03 | Breed David S. | Asset system control arrangement and method |
US20060208169A1 (en) * | 1992-05-05 | 2006-09-21 | Breed David S | Vehicular restraint system control system and method using multiple optical imagers |
US20090092284A1 (en) * | 1995-06-07 | 2009-04-09 | Automotive Technologies International, Inc. | Light Modulation Techniques for Imaging Objects in or around a Vehicle |
KR20140028255A (en) | 2012-08-28 | 2014-03-10 | 동아전기부품 주식회사 | Apparatus and method for air conditioning and ventilating of seat for vehicle |
US20210178989A1 (en) * | 2019-12-13 | 2021-06-17 | Hyundai Motor Company | System and method for charging of battery of seat |
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US20210268946A1 (en) | 2021-09-02 |
KR20210109739A (en) | 2021-09-07 |
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